{"id":9731,"date":"2021-05-05T07:00:54","date_gmt":"2021-05-05T07:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elblogdeidiomas.es\/?p=9731"},"modified":"2021-05-03T13:17:42","modified_gmt":"2021-05-03T13:17:42","slug":"the-comparative-and-the-superlative-in-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elblogdeidiomas.es\/en\/the-comparative-and-the-superlative-in-english\/","title":{"rendered":"The comparative and the superlative in English"},"content":{"rendered":"

The comparative and the superlative in English<\/strong><\/h1>\n
\n

INDEX OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Formation of the comparative and superlative<\/li>\n
  • Elements to consider\u2026<\/li>\n
  • Comparison of two elements<\/li>\n
  • Comparison of more than two elements<\/li>\n
  • Form comparative and superlative<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

    When we want to compare two or more nouns, adjectives or adverbs we use the comparative and superlative forms.\u00a0Grammatically, the main difference\u00a0is between comparing 2 items or comparing more than 2 items<\/strong>\u00a0.\u00a0To make the comparative form of adjectives (like \u201cbigger\u201d or \u201cmore expensive\u201d) and the superlative form (like \u201cbiggest\u201d or \u201cmost expensive\u201d), we first need to know how many syllables there are in the adjective.<\/p>\n

    In addition, and as a personal advice, we will tell you not to forget to certify your knowledge on platforms such as\u00a0examenexam\u00a0.<\/p>\n

    Formation of the comparative and\u00a0superlative<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Two-syllable adjectives can form\u00a0the comparative by adding -er<\/strong>\u00a0or preceding the adjective with\u00a0more<\/em>\u00a0.\u00a0These adjectives form the superlative by\u00a0adding -est or preceding the adjective with most.\u00a0<\/strong>\u2026 For adjectives that end in y, change the y to an i before adding the ending.<\/p>\n

    Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object that is at the upper or lower limit of a quality (the highest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest).\u00a0They are used in sentences where a subject is compared to a group of objects.\u00a0Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun object<\/em>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Comparative adjectives compare one person or thing with another and allow us to tell whether a person or thing has more or less one particular quality:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • This car is more expensive than my last one.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Este auto es m\u00e1s caro que el anterior.<\/p>\n

      Superlative adjectives describe that a person or thing has more qualities than all the other people or things in a group:<\/h3>\n
        \n
      • Joe used to be the slowest runner in the class.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Joe sol\u00eda ser el corredor m\u00e1s lento de la clase.<\/p>\n

        It must be taken into account that:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

        Superlatives generally start with the definite article\u00a0the<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0“the” in front of them, since it is referring to a specific thing, which is\u00a0most something<\/em>\u00a0–\u00a0tallest, coolest,\u00a0<\/em>scariest<\/em>\u00a0“more something” – taller, cooler, scarier , etc.\u00a0– compared to all other similar things.<\/p>\n

        And of course, since we are speaking in English, there are exceptions to the “-er \/ -est” rule!\u00a0Not all comparatives can end in \u201c-er\u201d and not all superlatives can end in \u201c-est\u201d.\u00a0Here are some examples:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • This is the\u00a0goodest<\/strong>\u00a0summer I\u2019ve ever experienced.\u00a0<\/em>WRONG!<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Este es el verano m\u00e1s bueno que he experimentado. \u00a1INCORRECTO!<\/p>\n

            \n
          • This is the\u00a0best<\/strong>\u00a0summer I\u2019ve ever experienced.\u00a0<\/em>RIGHT!<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Este es el mejor verano que he experimentado. \u00a1CORRECTO!<\/p>\n

              \n
            • The weather is much\u00a0badder<\/strong>\u00a0today than yesterday.\u00a0<\/em>WRONG!<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              El clima es mucho m\u00e1s malo hoy que ayer. \u00a1INCORRECTO<\/p>\n

                \n
              • The weather is much\u00a0worse<\/strong>\u00a0today than yesterday.\u00a0<\/em>RIGHT!<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                El tiempo es mucho peor hoy que ayer. \u00a1CORRECTO!<\/p>\n

                  \n
                • This is the\u00a0confusingest<\/strong>\u00a0weather we\u2019ve ever had.\u00a0<\/em>WRONG!<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Este es el clima m\u00e1s confuso que hemos tenido. \u00a1INCORRECTO!<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • This is the most\u00a0confusing<\/strong>\u00a0weather we\u2019ve ever had.\u00a0<\/em>RIGHT!<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    Este es el clima m\u00e1s confuso que hemos tenido. \u00a1CORRECTO!<\/p>\n

                    Comparison of 2 elements<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                    To compare two elements,\u00a0we use the comparative<\/strong>\u00a0:<\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • I am big, he is bigger.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      Yo soy grande, \u00e9l es m\u00e1s grande.<\/p>\n

                        \n
                      • She works carefully, he works more carefully.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        Ella trabaja con cuidado, \u00e9l trabaja con m\u00e1s cuidado.<\/p>\n

                        We often use this form in this pattern:<\/h3>\n

                        {comparative} + {than} \/\u00a0<\/em>{comparativo} + {que}<\/p>\n

                          \n
                        • He is taller than me.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          \u00c9l es m\u00e1s alto que yo.<\/p>\n

                            \n
                          • We are more efficient than you.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            Somos m\u00e1s eficientes que t\u00fa.<\/p>\n

                            Comparison of more than 2 elements<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                            To compare more than two elements, we use the superlative:<\/p>\n

                              \n
                            • Jupiter is the biggest planet in the solar system.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              J\u00fapiter es el planeta m\u00e1s grande del sistema solar.<\/p>\n

                                \n
                              • In the company, Sandra works the most carefully.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                En la empresa, Sandra es la que trabaja con m\u00e1s cuidado<\/p>\n

                                If the context is clear, we don’t need to use a full comparison.\u00a0We can say:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                  \n
                                • This book is more difficult.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                  Este libro es m\u00e1s dif\u00edcil.<\/p>\n

                                  The rest of the sentence is implicit:<\/h3>\n
                                    \n
                                  • This book is more difficult (than that book).<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                    Este libro es m\u00e1s dif\u00edcil (que ese libro).<\/p>\n

                                    We often use the superlative with the present perfect simple like this:<\/h3>\n

                                    {superlative}\u2026 {present perfect + always}<\/p>\n

                                      \n
                                    • It was the most boring film I have ever seen.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                      Fue la pel\u00edcula m\u00e1s aburrida que he visto.<\/p>\n

                                        \n
                                      • That was the most disgusting meal I have ever had to eat.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                        Esa fue la comida m\u00e1s repugnante que he tenido que comer.<\/p>\n

                                        Forming comparative and superlative<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                                        \u00a0<\/strong>Small words\u00a0add -er and -est to make comparative and superlative<\/strong>\u00a0.\u00a0Big words use more and most<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                                        adjetive<\/td>\ncomparative<\/td>\nsuperlative<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Small<\/p>\n

                                        peque\u00f1o<\/td>\n

                                        		Smaller<\/p>\n

                                        M\u00e1s peque\u00f1o<\/td>\n

                                        		Smallest<\/p>\n

                                        El m\u00e1s peque\u00f1o<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

                                        Extensive<\/p>\n

                                        extenso<\/td>\n

                                        		More extensive<\/p>\n

                                        M\u00e1s extenso<\/td>\n

                                        		The most Extensive<\/p>\n

                                        El m\u00e1s extenso<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

                                        Many<\/td>\nMore<\/td>\nMost<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Bad<\/td>\nWorse<\/td>\nWorst<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Good<\/td>\nbetter<\/td>\nbest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Able<\/td>\nabler<\/td>\nablest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Handsome<\/td>\nHandsomer<\/td>\nhandsomest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Gentle<\/td>\nGentler<\/td>\ngentlest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Late (time)<\/p>\n

                                         <\/td>\n

                                        		later<\/td>\nlatest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Late (order)<\/td>\nlatter<\/td>\nlast<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Far (place)<\/td>\nfarther<\/td>\nfarthest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Far (time)<\/td>\nfurther<\/td>\nfurthest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Little (size)<\/td>\nlittler<\/td>\nlittlest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Little (amount)<\/p>\n

                                         <\/td>\n

                                        		less<\/td>\nleast<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Old<\/p>\n

                                        (when defining objects)<\/td>\n

                                        		older<\/td>\noldest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Old<\/p>\n

                                        (when defining a person)<\/td>\n

                                        		elder<\/td>\neldest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Strange<\/p>\n

                                         <\/td>\n

                                        		stranger<\/td>\nstrangest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Polite Politer Politest<\/td>\npoliter<\/td>\npolitest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Few<\/td>\nfewer<\/td>\nfewest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Friendly<\/td>\nfriendlier<\/td>\nfriendliest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Kind<\/td>\nkinder<\/td>\nkindest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Safe<\/p>\n

                                         <\/td>\n

                                        		safer<\/td>\nsafest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Simple<\/td>\nsimpler<\/td>\nsimplest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Sorry<\/td>\nsorrier<\/td>\nsorriest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        True<\/td>\ntruer<\/td>\ntruest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Weird<\/td>\nweirder<\/td>\nweirdest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                                        Dry<\/p>\n

                                         <\/td>\n

                                        		drier<\/td>\ndriest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n
                                        \n \n
                                        \n \n
                                        \n
                                        \n \n\n
                                        <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
                                        \n \n\n
                                        <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
                                        \n \n\n
                                        <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
                                        \n \n\n
                                        <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
                                        \n \n\n
                                        <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
                                        \n
                                        \n \n\n
                                        <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
                                        \n \n\n
                                        <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
                                        \n \n\n
                                        <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
                                        \n \n\n
                                        <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
                                        \n \n\n
                                        <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n
                                        \n 5\/5 - (1 vote) <\/div>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                        The comparative and the superlative in English INDEX OF CONTENTS Formation of the comparative and superlative Elements to consider\u2026 Comparison...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2637,"featured_media":10358,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8080,8092,8093,8075],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9731","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-level-a2-levels","category-level-b1-levels","category-level-b2-levels","category-learn-english","post_format-post-format-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/elblogdeidiomas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9731","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/elblogdeidiomas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/elblogdeidiomas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elblogdeidiomas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2637"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elblogdeidiomas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9731"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/elblogdeidiomas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9731\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10360,"href":"https:\/\/elblogdeidiomas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9731\/revisions\/10360"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elblogdeidiomas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10358"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/elblogdeidiomas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9731"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elblogdeidiomas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9731"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elblogdeidiomas.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9731"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}